Charitable Trusts

A Charitable Trust enables you to support the people and things you believe in, to make a difference and to leave a lasting legacy.

Charitable Trusts are normally established to support charitable purposes by way of a Deed of Trust, or under a Will. They have a dedicated charitable goal such as the prevention or relief of poverty, the advancement of education or religion; the advancement of health; the saving of lives; the advancement of citizenship or community development; the advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science; the advancement of public participation in sport; or the provision or organisation of recreational facilities. In all cases, the charity must be for benefit of the public in Scotland or elsewhere.

There are a variety of advantages to charitable status, including exemption from most forms of tax, including Income Tax, Inheritance Tax, and Capital Gains Tax.

Charitable Trusts, like other Trusts, are administered by trustees. In Scotland such Trusts are regulated by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.

How can Thorntons help?

If you are thinking of setting up a new Charitable Trust, you should seek legal advice. At Thorntons our team, including Accredited Trust Specialists, can offer you guidance on all aspects of Charitable Trusts, including the mechanics of setting up a new Trust.

It is worthwhile considering how your aims can be achieved most efficiently. Because of regulatory requirements, it can be more expensive to run a number of smaller charities all with roughly the same purposes rather than one larger charity.

We are always happy to meet you to discuss your needs and how a Trust may achieve the outcome you want.

Charitable Trusts

Below are some of the Charitable Trusts administered by Thorntons, who accept applications for grants from applicants who meet the criteria specified by the Trustees.

Grant purpose and criteria: Caird Travelling Music Scholarships are awarded to applicants who are travelling away from their home town to a place of study either in the UK or abroad. The Scholarships are generally for post graduate levels of study for those of outstanding musical ability; or for under graduate studies abroad for those of exceptional talent.

Grant purpose and criteria: The Trust was set up to assist blind and partially sighted people. The Trustees have now resolved to use the Trust's annual income to provide a Musical Education Award and funding towards Educational Visits.

Grant purpose and criteria: The Trust purposes are to assist aged, infirm and indigent individuals, male and female, belonging to or settled in Dundee or the Parish thereof. Preference, if necessary, will be given to those with the name Petrie or Wighton.

Grant awarded: Grants are paid annually in two instalments in March and November.

Grant purpose and criteria: The Trustees are particularly keen to support (a) projects which improve the quality of life of the residents of Angus (and in particular Arbroath). (b) organisations involved in community activities (c) groups assisting the disadvantaged and those isolated by mainstream society (d) groups assisting the elderly and the sick (e) activities promoting good citizenship in the young and (f) projects promoting sport and artistic development.

Grant purpose and criteria: Grants are only given to organisations with charitable status carrying out their objectives within Angus, Dundee, Perth and Kinross, Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire. A significant part of the annual distribution is made over to voluntary groups based or supporting works in Angus and in particular Arbroath.

The Trustees are particular keen to support (a) projects which improve the quality of life of the residents of Angus (and in particular Arbroath); (b) organisations involved in community activities; (c) groups assisting the disadvantaged and those isolated by mainstream society; (d) groups assisting the elderly and the sick; (e) activities promoting good citizenship in the young; and (f) projects promoting sport and artistic development.

Grants awarded: three times a year, normally in March, August and December.

Grant purpose and criteria: The Joseph Alexander Trust supports charitable organisations and causes in Kirriemuir and District, with particular emphasis on supporting the Arts. In recent times the Trust has funded prizes for the local schools and supplied them with music and photography equipment and it has also given funding towards local history projects, musical societies and the likes.

The Trustees will not normally give general income support but instead would prefer to fund special projects.

Deadline: Grants are awarded twice yearly. The deadline for application forms is the end of March and end of Septemebr each year.